Hydrant valve



April 28, 1925.

J. W. FLOWER HYDRANT VALVE Original Filed March 31, 1921 Patented Apr.28 1925.

UNITED `STATES 1,535,912 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W.VFI|OWER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO

MICHIGAN VALVE FOUNDRY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHI- GAN,A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

HYDRANT VALVE.

To all 'wlw/nt t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. FLownn, a citizen of the United States, andresiding at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and Improved I-Iydrant Valve, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the construction of valves for fire hydrants,particularly for hydrants connected to high pressure water mains, andits object is to provide a hydrant valve which can `readily be openedaga-inst a high pressure of water.`

Tihis invention consists, in combination with a fire hydrant having avalve seat and a valve to engage the seat, a stem whereby the valvemaybe moved from its seat, and a second pressure receiving memberconnected to the stem, the valve and the second member being pressed inopposite directions by the water when the valve is on its seat so thatsaid valve may be moved from its seat with a minimum expenditure offorce.

Itkalso consists in the details of construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section o a firehydrant embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar section ofthe lower end thereof on a larger scale.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

The general structure of the hydrant shown in the drawing is well knownand yconsists of a body 1 to which the hood 2 is connected by the bolts3. A diaphragm 4 has 'a stufing box 5 to prevent leakage around the stem6 and a ring 7 forms a Ijoint between the head and body. The upper endof thestem is threaded in the nut 8, held in position by the bushing 9.

The lower end. of the body 1 connects to the valve chamber 10, and avalve seat 12 screwsinto the internal shoulder 13 of this chamber, ajamb nut 14 preventing turning of the seat and the packing rings 15 and16 preventing leakage. The interior of the seat is formed with grooves17 and 18 for the cross head 19 in which the stem is secured and wherebythe stem is prevented from turning. A drain passage 20 through the valvechamber and valve seat Application rled` March 31, 1921, Serial No.457,251. Renewed October 18, 1923.

is normally open but will be closed by the packing strip 22, preferablyleather, when the valve stem and the cross head 19 is moved down.

On the stem next the hub 23 of the cross head 19 is a disk 24 having athreaded hub 25. On the stem is a spool 26 having end flanges 27 and 28,a recess to receive the threaded hub 25, and a threaded hub 29. A seconddisk 30 is adapted to be screwed onto this hub 29. Layers of leather 32are tightly pressed between the flange 27 and disk 24 and other layers33 between the flange 28 and disk 30. The layers 32 are turned conicalto constitute a valve to fit the seat 12 while the layers 33 are turnedcylindrical to fit the cylinder 34 in the extension 35 of the valvechamber. The united spool, disks, valve 32, and piston 33 are shown heldon the valve stem by the nuts 36. A hub 37 on the valve chamber isadapted to receive an extension of the water main and the extension 35below the piston valve 33 is provided with a vent or drain 38.

The operation of thevalve is rendered very easy by the downward pressureof the water on the piston 33 being but little less than the upwardpressure on the valve 32. This not only makes for ease of operating, butalso prevents excessive wear and breakage of the parts which occur sooften when hydrant valves are forced open against high water pressures.

The details of the construction and proportions of the parts may all bechanged by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim 1. In a hydrant, the combination of a body and a valve chamberconnected to the lower end thereof, a valve seat in said chamber, anupright valve stem central with the valve seat, a guide for the stemslidable in the valve seat, said valve chamber having a cylindricaldownward extension in alinement with the valve stem, a spool mounted onthe valve stem and having a flange at each end, a disk on the stem ateach end of the spool, a conical valve at the upper end of the spoolbetween the flange and disk adapted to engage the valve seat and apiston on the stem at the lower end of the spool between the flange anddisk adapted to slide in said cylindrical extension of the valvechamber, said chamber having an inlet between the valve seat andcylindrical extension and a vent in Said extension.

2. n a, hydrant7 the combination of a body and a valve chamber connectedto the lower end thereof, a valve Seat in said chamber, an upright valvestem central with the valve seat, a` guide ilioi the Stein slidable inthe valve seat, said valve chamber having a cylindrical downwardextension in alinenlent with the vulve Stein, n spool mounted on thevalve stein and having` a flange at each end, a disk on the stem at eachend of the spool, a conical valve at the upper end of the spool betweenthe lange and disk adapted to engage the valve seat and a piston on thestein at the loweil end of thekspool between the flange and disk adaptedte slide n seid cylindrical extension of the valve chamber, saidchiunbei having un inlet between Jthe valve Sea-t and cylindricalextension and a vent in said extension, the effective urea of the pistonbeing less tlmn'thfxt of the conical valve.l

JOHN lV. LOXVER.

